Collapsible vehicle body



March 18, 1952 Filed May 2, 1947 H. w. MILLER 2,589,416

COLLAPSIBLE VEHICLE BODY 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. flag/e W/V/ 4 7g drive/ 224 March 18, 1952 H. w. MILLER COLLAPSIBLE VEHICLE BODY INVENTOR. fizaav h faezle E E1 By I WM, flaw 12m March 1952 H. w. MILLER COLLAPSIBLE VEHICLE BODY 15 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 2, 1947 Patented Mar. 18, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I COLLAPSIBLE VEHICLE BODY Harry w. Miller, Samoa, Calif. Application May 2, 1947, Serial No. 745,605

; 2Claims. (c1.29s- -23) This invention relates to dwellings and other structures, and has particular reference to a collapsible trailer.

A prime object of the invention is to provide a structurethat is collapsible to compact form for the purposeof storage or mobility, and that can be quickly and easily erected to serve as a house.

While this specification will hereinafter refer to mobile house trailers, it is understood that garages, barns, warehouses, and other structures are likewise contemplated.

tached thereto a channel l9 adapted to mate vertically with the free end edge of the side H. The top- 8 is, in the extended position of the trailer, in an inclinedposition, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

The roof section comprises an upper peaked or curved panel 20 and a lower panel 2| spaced from The accompanying drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the collapsed trailer.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the erected Figure 8 is a perspective detailed view of one of the bed plates and complemental'end members and side in semi-unassembled position.

The trailer is preferably fabricated of metal panels, but it is apparent that plywood, plastic, or other suitable materials maybe utilized. Two wheels II) are shown, as well as an attaching tongue I l. but jacks or a greater or smaller number of wheels may be substituted, and in fact the device may be employed as a non-mobile structure. The body. 2 constitutes a support for all the other members, which are movable with respect thereto. The size will depend on the purpose for which it is to be used.

The trailer will first be described with reference to its erected position, shown more particularly in Figures 2 and 3.

A bed plate I3 is hinged to the top of the body l2, so as to swing outwardly therefrom. There may be two or more such bed plates |3 on each side, depending on the length of the trailer. Each plate l3 has hinged to it a swinging brace M, the free end of which is adapted to nest in a socket |5 fixed on the body |2, so that the bed plate |3 may be supported in a horizontal posi-- A side. I! is hingedly secured to the extending and of the bed plate l3, with the free end of the side I! extending upwardly. A top I8 has atthe upper panel 20, for a purpose to be described more particularly hereinafter. This space is sufficient to accommodate both the tops l8, one on top of the other. The lower panel 2 I may take the form of a rail; if desired.

7 The tops 18 are provided with stops 23 to mesh with the ends of the lower panel or rail 2|, to limit the outward movement of the tops |8. A flap 25 of rubber or waterproof fabric is fastened to the underside of the panel 20 and acts to cover the joint between the upper panel 20 and the top I8.

.A vertical end member 26 is hinged to the end of each bed plate l3, and the top I8 has an end channel 21 to accommodate the upper portion of the end member 26.

An end panel 30 is provided at each end of the trailer and may include windows 3| and a door 32. Each end panel 30 is formed of four vertical sections 50, 5|, 52 and 53. The sections 52 and 53 comprise respectively rigid end walls for the body l2 and the roof 20. The intermediate sections 50 and 5| are hingedly connected together and to the rigid sections 52 and 53 by horizontal sets of hinges so as to provide a toggle-like arrangement to permit collapsing of such end panels in a well-known manner. The lowermost intermediate sections 5| each has fixed thereto an upwardly extending rigid lever 45. The upper end of each lever 45 has secured thereto one end of a cable 35 which extends over a pulley 36 fixed to the rigid end section 53 between the roof 2|). and roof panel or rail 2| The opposite ends of the cables 35 are connected together by a tension spring 31 located in the space between the roof 20' and panel or rail 2|. spring 31 is to load the collapsible sections 5| and 50 in the erected position shown in Figure 4.

Suitable fasteners are provided to maintain the various members secured in either compacted or erected position.

The channels I!) and 21 may be provided with rubber or felt liners 40 for the purpose of weatherproofing the device and of effecting a better closure.

Water compartments, closets, food lockers, and other containers may be located on the trailer in any well-known manner, in such a way as not The effect of the pos tio and the braces to interfere with the erection or compacting of I .2,5s9,41e

the roof, between the panels 20 and 2|. Then the ends 26 are folded in on top of the bed plates 13. The sides Il are then folded inwardlyover the ends -26on the bed-plates l3, thenflth e bed plates 13, with the ends 26 and the sides I! latched thereto, are folded into the trailer body; 7

l2. The braces I4 are swung into the trailer along with the bed plates l3. Then the sections 50 and 5| of the end panels 30 are folded inwardly, and this movement is against the force of the spring 31 because the 1evers-45 are fixed to sections 51. v The roof panels 20 and 2| are.

lowered at the same time. When the roof panels 20 and. 2.1 ar com le y lowere h y. r 5

cured to thebody Kl 2 by anysuitable means, not shown. The .result :[will be a securely paclred trailer occupying a minimum; or sp 'ace,' and ,pro-

tected against weather or loss of parts;

To.setup the trailer from -a compacted 'posi tion, the top panels, 28 and 2] are first released frombody l2. Thereafter, the top panels are automatically. raised or ere cted by the spring- 31,

able .35. an the ev rsfi-i h r s t int e:

end-panels ,3 0 being ergcte d tothe full line position of Figure 4. Then the bed plates l3 arens ..ou rdly .unt eyqassrmez hQ iZs Pa lare'set i o-t e sockets.

d t rt calpositi 1 x ere ted; Tn

portion trained over said pairof pulleys and extending horizontally and longitudinally of said roof, a retractile coil spring arranged between said pulleys and connected in said cable, and a lever extending upwardly and inwardly of the pivotal connection of the lower and upper sections of each of said end panels when the end panels are in their extended position and having one end fixedly secured to the lower section below andcontiguous to the adjacent pivotal connection and having the'other end connected to the adjacent free end of said cable for normally biasing; said upper and lower s'ections into said extended position. I

2. In a collapsible trailer, a body, a horizontally disposed roof spaced above said body, a pair of upstanding end panels disposed intermediate said 'roof andsaid body and each having one end pivpulleys disposed in longitudinal alignment and pane 20 d 2 dmatedrd h? he's d 11 and ends 26. After being latched, the trailer will be strong and secure,.and ready foroccupancy or other intended purpose. 7

Whatis claimed is:

1. In a'collapsible trailer, a bo,dy, a horizontal-1y pivotally connectedto said body and hav ng 'the other end. conn cted .to said '1YQQf each of "Said;

n oranel ii l d ne e andlowe s ct on sposed. i I de e nd relat nr th es eqtitp;

' saidroof and said body and each having one end.

c ot ernd r ta l onneqted t e her fo 1 ovemen ii nextended po it qnlnfil nr eat. with e ch thert -a iracted o tion sub-,-

911 qthena air o s a e tantiall c n r n pulleys di posed lon itu inal ali nm ran tthesame e on w t re pec o. ea hfother" at the same elevation, with respect to-eaoh other and each supported on said roof contiguous to an end thereof, a cable having an intermediate por- 'tion trained over said pair of pulleys and extending horizontally and longitudinally of saidroof, a retractile coil springarrangedbetween said pulleys and connected in; said cable, and" means operatively connecting each of the free ends of said ,cable to the lower section of the adjacent one of said end panels for normally biasingsaid upper and lower sections into said' ex tended position, said means comprising an inclined lever extending upwardly and inwardly from the lower section of said adjacent one of said end panels andfixedly secured thereto.

HARRY W. MILLER.-

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file. of this. patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

